The Program for Education in Drugs and Alcohol for Latine (PEDAL): A Substance Use Spanish-language Curriculum for Community Health Workers

Promotores, also known as community health workers, deliver culturally- and linguistically-informed public health interventions and can be part of the response to the US’ addiction crisis. However, no promotor programs have addressed addiction in the Latine community, and no Spanish-language curriculum exists. Addiction medicine physicians partnered with community-based organizations to co-design and implement the Program for Education in Drugs and Alcohol for Latine (PEDAL) in Spanish. PEDAL trained promotores to recognize and communicate about substance use, connect individuals to services, and educate the community about addiction. We performed a mixed-methods evaluation to understand PEDAL’s impact on curriculum objectives, substance use-related attitudes and stigma, and promotores’ overall experience via focus groups. We found increased promotor confidence in curricular objectives, but no change in attitudes and stigma immediately following completion. Focus groups showed improved attitudes and reduced stigma three months later. PEDAL may build community capacity to address the addiction crisis, especially among Latine and other communities that may not be reached by current interventions.